The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-17
dait and Yumor.
Love and Hard Cider.


lowed his arrival great many very sinSu-
lar things were reported of him-among
others that he had driven the devil out OF
old James Barrow, the notorious drunkard
of the place; and that people had seen him
the devil-run down the hill and jump
into the lake.
Walking home in the evening, after one
of the brightest meetings of the course,
arm.in-arm with his college friend, Silas
Weld, Robin heard more of what was re-
ported of him than he had heard before.
~ am sorry" he said. II think such
things hurt religion and also hurt the
preacher of whom they are said.
"You are not hurt by it yet, anyhow,
said Silas. "Margorie does not believe in
this nonsense, but she calls you the best
preacher she ever heard.
''She is very kind, I'm sure" said the
minister. "Who is she"
"She is the girl I'm engaged to, Robin,
said Silas. ave are very fond of each
other, but her father and 1 are not so fond.
| am going to call there this evening.
Will you go with me?"
ats late for call-half-past nine"
said Robin. "Take me if you think best,
or leave me if you think better, when we
get to the door. We have been friends
too long not to be quite frank with each
other"
81 think it's likely she's in the sitting
room," said Silas, opening a gate which
led through the orchard, and making his
way to a low door, shaded by porch; at
which he knocked in a rather peculiar
manner, and in an instant the door flew
open, and there stood Margorie herself, a
pretty picture with the lamp light glintjng
on her golden hair.
"Margorie," said the young man, 81
have brought Robin Spelry to see you.
Miss Garnet, Mr.. Sperry." Said Margo-
rie-"Very glad. Walk in, please. Silas,
I'm glad to see you: you know; but pa will
not be late to night; he said so. Pa is a
little peculiar, Mr.. Sperry. He was sea
captain once, and think that makes him
so; and he isn't very friendly yet to Silas. "
They sat together around the fre-the
first Of the season-and talked very pleas
antly. Margorie was hospitable, and cider
and doughnuts, which neither of the young
men were fastidious enough to despise,
were brought from the store room. In
the midst of this a slow dumping on the
board path became ;.udible. Margorie
clasped her plump hands and Silas turned
red
at is pa" whispered Margorie. "Oh
told you he'd be early, Silas. Hide
yourself. Run to the store closet-run.
Poor pa has been taking too much hard
cider-I know it by his walk. He'll stop
at nothing"
"You see, Robin" said Silas, doubt
fully, 'he promised to kill me if he found
me in his house again-and MaIgorie is
nervous about it-come.
''Thank you" said Robin; go yourself if
you like"
And Margorie, VINO had never ceased
wringing and clasping her hands; pushed
SiIas into the closet and turned to face her
father, who now stumbled in with rather
irregular steps and his face as red as one
of his own prize beets after good boiling.
"Oh, pa she cried hypocriticolly, chow
nice and early you are And here $ the
minister waiting 10 see you.
allow do you do, dominic p said Mr..
Garnet "Proud, I'm sure. Fill your
glass. Get out something 10 eat and
drink, Margorie.
~ have, pa said Margorie. "Don't
you see the pitcher ?" And she handed
him glass.
aSweet cider" said Mr.. Garnet, con-
temptuously. "Well. boys and girls, wo-
men and dominies like it, l suppose.
Hows religion comm on? Pretty brisk?"
Robin answered the best he could and
cast anxious glances toward the store closet.
"Sit down, sit down, dominic" said Mr..
Garnet. :'Make yourself at home. I've
wanted to talk to you this good while.
They say you can drive the devil out of
folks. Now, tell me, how does he so into
EN-? Tell me that"
Mr.. Garnet was very far from sober,
and Robin thought it best to humor him.
"When Satan enters a mans heart, it is
through sin, of course" he said.
"What kiad of sin?" said Mr.. Garnet,
in thick, tipsy voice.
"Many. Murder, thieving, lying and
drunkenness among others, said Robin.
"Look here, young man, said Mr.. Gm-
net, trying to rise, "I've got plenty of hard
cider aboard, l know. Now if Satan is
in me drive him out. want to see him.
Come now; go at it. I'm a good Metho-
dist"
81 think 1 had better take my leave,
Miss Garnet" said Robin.
But before the words were out of bis
Iips the door of the store closet opened
softly. The lamp was suddenly blown
out, smell of birthstone filled the room
and an awful figure stood before them.
Silas had possessed himself of box Of
matches, dampened the ends and rubbed
them over his face and hands, aud with
two more lunches blazing in his hands
stood before tho Mortified Mr.. Garnet, his
head tied up in silk b. dkerchief and
table-cloth draping his shoulders.
HYou want to see me; here / am, che
said, in hollow tones. 'You reprobate
look at me-
Margorie shrieked. Robin stood be-
wildered. Old Mr.. Garnet sank on his
knees.
"Ob, dominic, keep him away he
cried, @0h, what am TO do"
"Soften your hard heart" said Silas.
s'Don't drink so much cider, and let your
marty the man of her choice, or
III come and fetch you next Christmas. "
And fourisbing the flaming matches, be
dashed out of the door.
sect up, Mr.. Carmel" said Robin. "Get
np, sir; sit in your chair. Miss Garnet,
will you light the lamp? Be calm, be
calm r and he held the old mans hand
IN his.
Dominic, gasped Mr.. Garnet, ''you
won't raise him again. There, don't speak;
listen. Why do you suppose he came p
Robin was very wrong; he confessed this
afterward, but he was very young, also, and
In love himself with sgirl who was far
away, and SiIas was his friend; and instead
of making an explanation Of the facts he
merely answered..
Il think be told you himself why he
came -